What is ArcCatalog?

The ArcCatalog application provides a catalog window that is used to organize and manage various types of geographic information for ArcGIS Desktop. The kinds of information that can be organized and managed in ArcCatalog includes:

Geodatabases

Raster files

Map documents, globe documents, 3D scene documents, and layer files

Geoprocessing toolboxes, models, and Python scripts

GIS services published using ArcGIS Server

Standards-based metadata for these GIS information items

And much more

ArcCatalog organizes these contents into a tree view that you can work with to organize your GIS datasets and ArcGIS documents, search and find information items, and to manage them.

ArcCatalog presents this information in a tree view and allows you to select a GIS item, view its properties, and to access tools to operate on the selected item(s).

ArcCatalog is used to:

Organize your GIS contents

Manage geodatabase schemas

Search for and add content to ArcGIS applications

Document your contents

Manage GIS servers

Manage standards-based metadata

Note:

As an alternative to using ArcCatalog, you can open and work with the Catalog Window within ArcMap, ArcGlobe, and ArcScene in which all the same functions and tasks can be performed.